Sanjana Goyal, Melanie Cotton, Liezl Puzon, Nabiha Khakoo, Kirti Nuthi and Anna Reich (from left) were presented with scholarships from the Freehold Branch of the American Association of University Women. At the May 8 meeting of the Freehold Branch of the American Association of University Women, the six highest-ranking female seniors from the Freehold Regional High School District were honored with monetary awards.
These awards are named for Rose Fishkin, who was a Cornell graduate, a member of the Freehold Branch and a believer in lifelong education for women, according to a press release. The proceeds from the AAUW’s yearly book sale enable the branch to fund these awards.
The winners were:
Sanjana Goyal, Scholars Center for the Humanities, Howell High School. In addition to being president of the Mock Trial team, a member of the Relay for Life and secretary of the National Honor Society, she enjoys art, plays the piano and is a black belt in taekwondo.
Sanjana won the National Science Award and the All-American Scholar Award through the United States Achievement Academy. She plans to attend the Rutgers University School of Business.
Melanie Cotton, Manalapan High School. Melanie received a National Merit Scholarship this year and has chosen to study at Rutgers University. She is on the board of Students Against Destructive Decisions, a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Environmental Club.
Liezl Puzon, Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. Liezl received awards from the National Science League and was a Chemistry Olympiad Schools Winner in 2012 and 2013. She attended the Governor’s School at Rutgers University where she worked with stroke rehabilitation and Android applications, developing two games for stroke patients.
During her junior year, she created a program for the visually impaired to help them navigate their immediate environment. Liezl will attend Stanford University, where she intends to major in computer science.
Nabiha Khakoo, Colts Neck High School. Nabiha is a member of the student body and participates in the Law and Public Service Learning Center. She belongs to the Junior State of America, Model United Nations, the New Jersey Science League and finds time to volunteer at a hospital and a nursing home. The University of Miami’s accelerated BS/MD Program at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine awaits her in the fall.
Kirti Nuthi, Marlboro High School. Through competitions like the Euro Challenge and Fed and Team Challenges, Kirti has experienced the effort and conversational skills required to create successful presentations.
Fluent in Spanish and currently studying Mandarin and Hindi, she is a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Her interests are focused on the dramatic arts and she has performed in the theater and plays the clarinet and guitar. The University of California at San Diego is her college of choice.
Anna Reich, Freehold Township High School. Anna is a student in the Contemporary Issues Program as well as a member of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar and a National Merit Corporate Scholarship Recipient. She is vice president of the Freehold Township Junior State of America Chapter and co-president of Lit Alive. She is passionate about aiding children with special needs and is a coach with Challenger Sports and a summer volunteer in the extended school year program at the Manalapan Early Learning Center. Anna will attend Brandeis University.